Healthy 

Happy 

Womanhood 


A  Pamphlet  for  Girls 
and   Young    Women 


ISSUED   BY  THr 

United  States  Public  Health  Service 
Treasury  Department 

\Va>hiD|ton,  D.  C. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA    000  731  030 


HEALTHY.  HAPPY  WOMANHOOD 


Throughout  France  and  in  many  different  coun- 
tries of  the  world  there  stands  the  statue  of  a  great 
hero:"c  Frenchwoman,  Joan  of  Arc.  Thds  humble 
peasant  girl  of  Brittany,  aroused  by  the  misfortunes 
of  her  countrjTnen,  helped  to  free  them  from  the 
hands  of  a  foreign  foe.  But  to-day  she  has  come  to 
represent  far  more  than  this.  She  lias  come  to 
£tand  for  the  woman  with  a  vision,  tlie  woman  who 
is  seeking  to  do  her  part  for  the  bettennent  of  the 
world.  Wherever  her  figiu-e  appears,  it  is  always 
looking  forward,  the  light  of  a  groat  piu-pose  in  her 
eyes,  the  will  for  large  acliievcment  in  the  lines  of 
her  face.  As  she  raises  her  standard  aloft  there 
seem  to  gather  behind  it  innumerable  hosts  of  those 
who  would  follow  her  lead.  A  daughter  of  war- 
ridden  fifteenth-centmy  France,  she  nevertheless 
sjTnbolizes  the  woman  of  the  twentieth  centm7", 
eager  to  take  a  part  in  the  work  of  the  world  and  in 
the  great  life-giving  enterprises  of  peace. 

HEALTH,   THE   FOUNDATION 

You  who  aspire  to  take  a  part  in  the  work  of  the 
world  should  assure  yourself  of  good  health.  With- 
out it  all  other  preparation  may  be  in  vain.  To- 
day, in  addition  to  the  more  familiar  duties 
of  the  home,  new  occupations  in  factory  and 
office  are  open  to  you.  In  many  fields  you  may 
now  compete  with  men.    But  only  if  you  poaseae 

20185'— 20  (2) 


good  health — a  vigoroua  body  and  a  clnar  hrain — 
can  you  cxpi>ct  to  undertake  the  new  and  trying 
work  successfully.  Xo  matter  how  thoroughly 
you  are  trained,  such  training  will  he  of  little  value 
unless  it  rests  upon  a  foundation  of  good  health. 

Good  health  is  even  more  important  from  the 
point  of  view  of  motherhood.  In  some  of  the  war- 
ravaged  countries  of  Europe  more  than  lialf  of  the 
Laities  who  are  bom  die  during  the  first  year  of  life. 
Thousands  of  others  begin  their  lives  under 
tremendous  handicaps,  ^^'hy?  Lai^ely  because 
the  strength  of  the  mothers  has  been  sapped  by 
foo<l  shortage  and  overwork  so  that  tliey  can  not  give 
their  babies  proper  nourishment.  The  dream  of 
these  mothers  of  chubby,  rosy-cheeked  babies,  who 
were  to  have  been  their  joy,  has  vanished.  Upon 
healthy  womanhood  dep>ends  to  a  large  extent 
happ>'  motherhood. 

Phy.sical  fitness  during  youth  is  the  best  founda- 
tion for  healthy,  happy  womanhood.  It  is  an  asset 
of  which  you  may  rightly  feel  proud.  With 
health,  you  can  look  forward  to  the  time  when  you 
can  participate  actively  in  the  work  of  the  world; 
with  health,  happy  motherhood  becomes  a  well- 
grounded  hope  for  the  future. 

BEAUTY   AND   POPULARITY 

Besides  fitting  you  more  effectively  for  your  life's 
work,  good  health  will  incidentally  increase  your 
beauty  and  attractiveness.  True  beauty  comes 
from  within;  it  can  not  be  put  on  from  without. 
Good  health  gives  such  beauty,  a  beauty  that  will 
wear.  Its  foundation  is  health  of  mind  and  body; 
its  expression  is  a  sparkling  eye,  a  clear  complexion, 
a  graceful  body,  an  active  brain. 


Every  girl  wants  to  be  popular  with  her  com- 
panions. To-day  the  popular  girl  is  the  girl  who 
glows  with  life,  who  can  swim  and  dance  and  play 
outdoor  games,  who  has  plenty  of  energy  for  fun 
when  she  has  finished  her  daily  tasks.  Good  health, 
since  it  produces  high  spirits,  vitality,  cheerful- 
ness and  leadership,  will  help  to  make  you  popular. 
Every  girl  likes  to  enjoy  herself.  She  likes  to  go 
to  parties  and  picnics,  to  find  the  real  joys  of  living. 
Physical  fitness,  by  enlarging  your  opportunity  for 
enjoyment  and  your  power  to  enjoy,  makes  more 
such  occasions  possible. 

HOW   FITNESS   IS   ATTAINED 

Plenty  of  physical  exercise,  fresh  air,  sufficient 
sleep,  frequent  bathing,  three  well-balanced  meals 
a  day,  erect  carriage  and  comfortable  clothing  will 
help  to  make  you  strong  and  well. 

Exercise. — To  keep  physically  fit,  exercise 
regularly  every  day  of  the  year.  Many  forms  of 
exercise  are  enjoyable  as  well  as  beneficial.  Walk- 
ing to  and  from  school  or  office,  "hiking,"  skating, 
canoeing,  swimming,  are  excellent  forms  of  outdoor 
exercise.  Games,  such  as  basket  ball,  volley  ball, 
hockey  and  tennis,  stimulate  both  mind  and  body 
and  are  enjoyable  sports.  The  blood  tends  to  flow 
to  the  part  of  the  body  that  is  used  and  gradually 
strengthens  the  otherwise  weak  and  flabby  muscles. 
Girls  who  sit  in  offices,  work  in  factories,  or  spend 
the  day  in  the  schoolroom  are  using  only  a  part  of 
their  bodies.  They  need  to  make  special  efforts 
to  exercise  the  unused  muscles  during  their  leis- 
uje   hours. 


Fresh  air  and  sleep. — ^You  ehoulfl  always  insist 
upon  working  in  well-ventilated  rooms.  Spend 
some  time  each  clay  in  the  open  air.  By  sleeping  in 
a  room  w'ith  the  ^"indows  open,  much  fresh  air  is 
secured  \nthout  special  effort. 

Sleep  rests  tlie  brain  and  relaxes  the  muscles. 
A  groAving  girl  needs  from  8*  to  9^  hours  of  sleep 
even.'  night.  Older  girls  may  find  that  they  can 
keep  well  with  somewhat  less. 

Bathing. — !Many  impurities  are  cast  off  by  the 
body  through  the  jwres  of  the  skin.  In  order  to 
keep  those  pores  open  and  clean,  frequent  hatha 
with  soap  and  warm  water  are  necessary.  The 
best  way  to  bathe  is  to  take  a  warm  liath  followed  by 
a  colli  shower  or  sponge  and  a  brisk  rub  with  a  coarse 
towel.  A  cold  bath  is  excellent  for  you,  if  after  the 
rub-down  it  leaves  your  body  warm  and  glowing 
and  is  followed  by  a  feeling  of  general  well-being. 

What  to  eat. — A  vigorous  body  demands  whole 
some  foo<l,  eaten  regidarly.  Three  meals  a  day  are 
sufficient.  They  should  include  fruits  and  vege- 
tables, either  fresh  or  canned;  cereals  including 
bread,  especially  whole-wheat  and  corn  bread; 
butter,  eggs  and  milk;  a  moderate  amount  of 
simple  dessert.    Meat  once  a  day  is  sufficient. 

Proper  food,  at  least  eight  glasses  of  water  a  day, 
plenty  of  exercise,  and  care  in  keeping  the  bowels 
emptied  each  day  will  prevent  constipation.  If 
waste  material  in  the  bowel  is  not  removed,  it  will 
generate  poisons  which  are  likely  to  damage  the 
entire  system. 

Erect  posture. — Not  only  unattractiveness  but 
also  headaches  and  disturbances  of  the  diu'eative 
and  breathing  organs  may  be  due  to  slouching 
positions  which  crowd  the  lungs,  stomach,  and 


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intestines.  The  essentials  of  a  good  standing 
position  are  to  "stand  tall" — chest  up,  not  out — 
the  back  touching  an  imaginary  straight  line. 
The  feet  should  be  parallel,  with  toes  pointing 
straight  forward.  Aside  from,  all  questions  of 
health,  the  erect  girl  who  carries  herself  with 
ease  and  gi-ace,  inspires,  by  her  very  appearance, 
the  confidence  of  her  employer  or  teacher  and  her 
friends. 

Clothing. — Clothes  should  be  loose  fitting,  warm 
and  light,  and  should  hang  from  the  shoulders, 
which  have  a  bony  frame  and  are  well  able  to 
carry  the  weight.  A'void  extremes  of  fashion, 
particularly  in  shoes.  For  street  wear  at  least 
those  with  low  heels  will  prove  attractive  as  well 
as  practical.  The  body  needs  a  level  foundation 
upon  which  to  stand. 

GLANDS    AND    THEIR    FUNCTIONS 

Important  in  maintaining  health  and  ^'igor  and 
in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  body  are  several 
organs  of  different  sizes  called  glands.  Each  of 
these  glands  produces  a  special  kind  of  secretion 
or  juice.  The  largest  gland  in  the  body  is  the 
liver  which  secretes  bile  or  gall,  a  juice  which  aids 
digestion.  Smaller  glands  in  the  cheeks  and  under 
the  tongue  secrete  saliva  which  has  a  similar 
function.  Tear  glands  give  off  tears  which  moisten 
and  cleanse  the  eyeball.  Other  glands,  instead 
of  pouring  their  secretions  out  where  they  can  be 
seen,  send  their  product  directly  into  the  blood. 
For  instance,  the  thjToid  gland  located  in  the  front 
of  the  neck  makes  a  secretion  which  is  absorbed 
by  the  blood  and  which  plays  an  important  part 
in  development. 


Other  important  glands  are  the  ovaries  in  the 
woman  and  the  testes  in  the  ma;;.  These  glands 
belong  to  the  sex  or  reproductive  organs  o£  man 
and  woman.  The  secretion  from  the  ONaries  is 
absorbed  by  the  bloud  and  canied  to  all  parta 
of  the  Vjody.  It  causes  the  girl's  breasts  to  en- 
large, her  figure  to  develop.  It  adds  a  lastre  to 
her  hair,  a  spaikle  to  her  eye.  It  makes  her  brain 
clear  and  active.  In  short,  it  changes  her  from 
Hie  awkward  girl  of  12  or  13  into  a  bright,  at- 
tractive young  woman.  The  secretion  from  the 
I  oy's  sex  glands  gives  tone  to  his  muscles,  power 
to  his  brain,  and  vitality  to  his  nerves.  The  sex 
glands  are  necessary  for  the  development  of  man- 
hiod  and  womanhood. 

THE    KEPRODUCTIVE    SYSTEM 

The  function  of  the  reproductive  organs  is  to 
produce  life — fuller  and  richer  life  for  one's  self 
and  the  new  lii'e  of  little  ones  who  will  grow  up  to 
assume  our  tasks.  In  tliese  organs  lie  the  woman's 
power  to  become  a  motlier  and  the  man's  power  to 
become  a  father.  The  gii-l's  reproductive  organs 
consist  of  the  uterus  or  womb,  two  fallopian  tubes, 
two  ovaries,  and  the  vagina. 

The  utenis  or  womb  is  a  pear-shaped  body  about 
3  inches  long,  hanging  ^^■ith  the  small  end  down- 
ward in  the  lower  part  of  the  body.  Its  lower  end 
opens  into  the  vagina  which  is  a  short  tube  con- 
necting it  with  the  oute-ide.  The  fallopian  tubes 
are  attached  to  each  side  of  the  upper  end  of  the 
uterus.     Beyond  the  end  of  each  tube  is  an  o\  ary. 

In  addition  to  making  the  secretion  which  helps 
to  develop  the  girl  into  a  woman,  the  ovariee  make 


8 

tiny  egg  cells.  Each  cell  contains  the  mother's 
portion  of  the  life  of  a  child.  After  the  girl's  sex 
organs  ha^'e  partially  matured,  at  12  to  15  years  of 
age,  one  of  these  egg  cells  develops  about  once  in 
28  days.  It  passes  from  the  ovary  an*-!  finds  its 
way  down  the  fallopian  tube. 

At  about  the  time  the  egg  cell  leaves  the  ovary, 
an  additional  supply  of  blood  is  sent  to  the  uterus. 
If  this  is  not  needed  for  the  development  of  the 
egg  cell  it  passes  out  of  the  body  at  the  monthly 
or  menstrual  period.  This  is  called  menstruation. 
Menstruation  is  a  normal  experience  and  not  an 
illness  as  many  girls  have  been  taught  to  believe. 
A  girl  who  is  well  and  strong  should  feel  little  or 
no  discomfort  during  her  menstrual  period.  To 
avoid  unnecessary  distress  due  to  pressure  upon 
the  uterus,  special  care  should  be  taken  at  this 
time  to  empty  the  bowel  and  bladder  regularly. 
Vigorous  forms  of  exercise  such  as  swimming  and 
horseback  riding  should  be  avoided,  but  some 
regular  exercise  should  be  taken.  The  external 
parts  of  the  sex  organs  should  always  be  kept  clean 
and  free  from  the  irritation  of  tight  clothing. 
Bathing  with  warm  water  and  soap  is  especially 
necessary  during  menstruation,  but  care  should 
be  taken  to  avoid  getting  chilled.  If  a  complete 
bath  can  not  be  taken,  the  external  parts  of  these 
organs  should  be  washed  night  and  morning. 

THE    BEGINNINGS    OF   LIFE 

Before  the  egg  cell  furnished  by  the  ovary  can 
develop  into  a  child,  it  must  be  fertilized  by  the 
sperm  or  male  germ  cell  which  is  furnished  by  the 
sex  organs  of  the  man. 


9 


The  union  of  male  and  female  j,'erm  colls  i8 
necessary  in  most  forms  of  plant  and  animal  life 
to  produce  now  life.  The  male  cell  in  the  pollen 
of  the  flower  must  unite  Antli  the  female  cell  which 
lies  at  the  base  of  the  flower  before  a  seed  containing 
the  life  of  a  new  plant  will  devel'op.  This  union 
of  male  and  female  cells  is  called  fertilization. 
The  ej:g  of  the  hen  must  be  fertilized  within  the 
lien's  })ody  by  the  sperm  of  the  rooster  if  the  egg 
which  is  laid  is  to  contain  the  life  of  a  baby  chick. 

Among  animals  such  as  the  rabbit,  the  cat,  the 
dog,  and  the  horse,  and  man,  the  sperm  or  male 
germ  cells  are  placed  in  the  body  of  the  female 
by  the  sex  organ  of  the  male,  and  union  ^\•ith  the 
egg  takes  place  within  the  reproductive  organs  of 
the  female.  The  fertilized  egg  then  develops  in 
the  uterus  of  the  mother. 

With  the  human  mother,  the  child  grows  in  the 
uterus  of  the  motlier  for  nine  montlis,  fed  by 
nourishment  from  her  blood,  warmed  and  protected 
within  the  body.  The  muscles  of  the  uterus  then 
contract,  and  the  child  comes  down  the  vagina 
into  the  outer  world.  At  that  time  the  child  has 
developed  to  the  point  where  he  can  breathe  for 
himself  and  take  the  milk  furnished  by  special 
glands  in  the  breast  of  the  mother.  The  uterus  of 
the  mother  returns  to  normal  size  within  a  few  days 
after  the  birth  of  the  child.  Afteru'ard  she  should 
liave  even  greater  \igor  and  better  health  for  the 
experience. 

THE    SEX    INSTINCT 

The  feeling  of  hunger  which  animals  and  human 
beings  have  drives  them  to  seek  fnod.  The  sex 
instinct  leads  them  to  create  life  and  continue  the 


io 


race.  There  exists  between  men.  and  ■women  a 
strong  attraction .  This  attraction  is  of  te  n  descri  bed 
by  the  "vrord  love.  LoA'e  is  due  in  a  large  measure 
to  the  sex  instinct.  All  the  fine  emotions  such  as 
love  ol:  mother  for  cMld,  of  husband  and  %vife, 
friendship,  devotion  to  a  gi'eat  cause,  and  the  joy 
wliich  one  finds  in  every  day  work  are  closely 
related  to  it. 

For  tlie  boy  and  for  the  gii'l  the  creative  or  sex 
impulse  finds  satisfaction  in  constructive  acti\'ities. 
School  Work,  reading  interesting  books  of  romance 
and  adventure,  clubs,  games,  outdoor  sports  xrith. 
boys  and  girls,  all  furnish  outlets  for  creative 
energy.  Such  outlets  are  also  to  be  found  in  hob- 
bies, the  making  of  collections,  or  the  cultivation  of 
special  talents  in  dramatics,  music,  and  painting, 
These  hobbies  ha-\-e  the  additional  ad^-antage  of 
helping  a  girl  to  make  herself  a  distinct  indiAidual. 
If  she  participates  in  pageants  or  plays  or  debating, 
or  is  known  as  a  girl  who  paints  posters,  she  is 
somebody,  and  therefore  has  more  respect  for  her- 
self and  receives  more  I'espect  fi-om  others.  The 
unmarried  woman  finds  an  outlet  for  her  creative 
energA'  in  work,  recreation,  and  serAice  for  others. 
But  because  tliis  impulse  is  related  to  the  creation 
of  new  life  its  most  complete  expression  is  found  in 
building  up  a  home  and  family. 

The  sex  instinct  is  a  tremendous  power  in  life. 
Used  rightly  it  vdll  bring  to  the  indiAidual  and  to 
the  race  the  gi-eatest  joy;  used  wrongly  it  will  not 
only  fail  to  produce  this  result,  but  also  it  will  prob- 
ably lead  to  serious  suffeiing  and  unhappiness. 


11 


MISUSE    or   SEX 

After  centuries  of  experience  the  marriage  of 
one  man  with  one  woman  has  come  to  be  considered 
the  best  method  of  carrjinp:  on  the  life  of  the  race. 
Through  such  a  relationship  the  sex  instinct  finds 
its  mogt  wholesome  satisfaction.  A  man  and  a 
woman  who  liring  children  into  the  v/orld  whom 
they  are  unwilling  to  take  care  of  endanger  their 
own  happiness  as  well  as  the  v.-elfare  of  the  com- 
munity. They  miss  the  finer  joys  of  human  love 
and  fail  to  appreciate  what  such  love  may  mean 
in  their  lives. 

More  than  this.  Indulgence  in  sex  relations 
among  persons  who  are  not  married  to  each  other 
exposes  them  to  a  serious  phy.«iral  danger.  They 
are  likely  to  become  infected  with  a  venereal  dis- 
ease. These  diseases  are  called  syphilis  fpox)  or 
gonorrhea  (clap).     They  are  germ  diseases. 

To  the  man  a  venereal  disease  may  mean  lifelong 
suffering,  unless  by  proper  treatment  the  germs 
are  destroyed .  Syphilis  often  causes  heart  disease, 
paralysis,  and  some  forms  of  in.sanity.  Gonorrhea 
may  cause  blindness,  chronic  rheumatism,  incur- 
able disorders  of  the  sex  organs,  and  inability  on 
the  man's  part  to  become  a  father. 

A  man  who  has  one  of  these  diseases  is  likely  to 
give  it  to  his  ^v^fe.  WTiile  syphilis  affects  her  much 
as  it  does  a  man,  gonorrhea  often  afflicts  her  even 
more  seriously.  Many  operations  upon  women's 
reproductive  organs  are  made  necessary*  by  gonor- 
rhea. Many  women  are  lifelong  invalids  as  the 
result  of  this  dLscafo.  Some  die.  Many  babies 
are  blind  at  birth  by  gonorrhea  in  tlie  mother. 
Fortunately,  simple  medical  treatment  given  the 


12 


baby  immediately  after  birth  ^vill  prevent  blind- 
ness of  this  kind.  Syphilis  causes  many  miscar- 
riages (the  birth  of  babies  before  they  can  live  out- 
side the  mother's  body).  Many  babies  are  defec- 
tive in  A-arious  ways  because  of  it. 

It  is  important  to  remember,  however,  that  these 
results — blindness,  sores,  invalidism,  and  opera- 
tions upon  women — ^are  often  due  to  causes  other 
than  syphilis  and  gonorrhea. 

These  diseases  are  contagious  or  "catching." 
Usually  they  are  passed  from  person  to  person 
through  sexual  intercourse.  Occa.sionally,  how- 
ever, a  person  is  infected  through  using  a  towel,  or 
public  drinking  cup,  or  from  being  kissed  by  a 
diseased  person.  Accusations  should  never  be 
made,  therefore,  against  anyone  who  appears  to  be 
suffering  from  the  effects  of  gonorrhea  or  sj'philis. 
If  one  of  these  diseases  has  actually  been  con- 
tracted, the  infection  may  have  occurred  in  an 
entirely  innocent  way. 

Sj'philis  and  gonorrhea  can  be  cured  if  treated 
by  a  competent  physician.  There  are  many  good 
clinics  for  those  who  can  not  afford  a  private  phy- 
sician. If  the  treatment  is  not  thorough  and  con- 
tinued long  enough  the  disease  may  reappear  years 
after  the  patient  believes  the  cuie  to  be  complete. 
This  is  especially  true  when  the  infected  person 
relies  on  patent  medicines  or  "quack"  doctors. 
Advertising  doctors  seldom  cm-e  and  generally  do 
more  harm  than  good. 

Because  the  sex  instinct,  which  may  bring  the 
individual  the  greatest  joy,  is  sometimes  misused 
a  girl  should  exercise  gieat  care  in  the  choice  of  the 
men  with  whom  she  associates.  Chance  acquaint- 
ances often  in\ite  girls   on   automobile  rides,  to 


13 


mo^•iee,  and  cates  vriih  the  intention  of  loading 
them  into  sex  relations.  Such  inWtations  should 
be  refused.  A  girl  does  not  v.-ish  to  be  considered 
an  easy  mark  or  to  put  herself  in  a  position  where 
a  man  can  take  advanta^^e  of  her. 

THE    GIKL'S    1>AKT 

Men  have  ahrays  demanded  that  the  women 
whom  they  marry  be  pure.  But  too  little  atten- 
tion has  been  paid  to  the  men  who  have  been 
unchaste  or  unfaithful.  To-day  physicians  are 
teaching  that  sexual  intercourse  is  no  more  neces- 
sar}'  for  men  than  for  women.  People  are  realizing 
that  the  great<?^•t  health  and  happiness  can  be 
attained  only  through  complete  physical,  mental 
and  spiritual  development,  that  such  development 
is  possible  only  when  the  sex  instinct  is  used  for 
the  upbuilding  of  the  individual  and  the  race. 
They  understand  that  this  rule  applies  as  rigidly 
to  men  as  to  woinen. 

Girls  and  women  have  a  special  work  to  do, 
therefore,  in  helping  to  build  up  a  liigh  standard 
of  sex  conduct.  They  must  demand  clean  living 
from  the  men  vriih  whom  they  associate.  Frank, 
wholesome  companionship  on  the  part  of  the  girl 
will  encourage  the  same  sort  of  companionship 
from  the  man.  Good  manners  are  bom  of  a  respect 
for  one's  self  and  for  others.  A  handshake  extends 
a  friendly  greeting.  A  kiss  should  mark  a  pledge 
of  love.  A  girl  who  does  not  value  these  expres- 
sions highly  and  use  them  sparingly  makes  herself 
cheap  and  weakens  her  p(nver  of  self-protection. 
If  she  really  values  a  man's  regard,  she  ^^^ll  not 
seek  to  ^vin  it  through  acts  and  words  of  familiarity, 
or  clothing  which   tends  to  arout?e  sex  desires. 


14 


Ph\'sical  attraction  alone  will  never  wholly  satisfy; 
lasting  love  and  friendship  are  cf  the  mind  as  well 
as  of  the  body.  Their  foundation  is  mutual  respect 
and  understanding,  their  highest  expression  a 
deeply  spiritual  emotion. 

A  girl's  success  and  happiness  will  depend  large- 
ly upon  her  choice  of  associates  and  finally  upon 
her  choice  of  a  husband.  Because  she  Avill  choose 
her  husband  from  among  her  men  friends,  it  is 
important  that  her  friendships  be  based  upon  qual- 
ities that  will  wear.  Hasty  marriages,  following  an 
acquaintance  of  a  few  days  or  weeks,  often  result 
in  unhappiness  because  they  are  not  founded  on  a 
love  based  upon  a  knov/ledge  of  each  other.  Fit 
partners  for  life  are  those  who  understand  and 
respect  each  other's  \'iews,  who  recognize  each 
other's  faults  as  well  as  \irtue8,  and  who  are  willing 
to  work  together  for  lasting  companionship. 

HOME  MAKERS   ALL 

The  future  of  the  race  depends  upon  the  chil- 
dren. The  men  and  women  of  to-day  can  de- 
termine in  a  large  degree  the  kind  of  men  and 
women  who  will  make  up  the  world  of  to-morrow. 
A  girl  can,  by  keeping  herself  well  and  by  marry- 
ing a  man  who  is  physically  fit,  give  her  children  a 
clean  bill  of  health.  '^Tiether  they  will  add  fine- 
ness of  character  to  a  good  physical  inheritance 
depends  largely  upon  the  influence  which  is  exert- 
ed upon  them  in  their  home. 

It  is  the  woman  who  is  peculiarly  the  home 
maker.  She  can  determine  whether  her  home  is 
to  be  a  place  where  people  sleep  and  eat  only,  or 
where  hei  family  and  friends  find  comfort,  inapix- 


15 


ation  and  sympathetic  companionship.  A  tru9 
home  maker  t<h;ircs  her  husliand'o  responsihilitiea, 
enters  into  the  lives  of  her  children  and  the  com- 
munity. By  developing  her  own  mind  and  spirit 
she  is  able  to  give  the  best  in  herself  and  draw  out 
the  be' tin  others.  Her  huaband  and  children  love 
her  and  work  i.r  her  gladly. 

A    CH.\I.LKNC!E    TO    THE    I'RESEXT 

In  the  development  of  America,  women  have 
mat.'e  a  splendid  record.  Three  hundred  years  ago, 
when  the  Pilgrims  landed  on  the  stern  and  rock- 
boun  1  Xew  England  coast,  it  was  the  women — the 
Anr  s  and  the  Priscillas — who  kept  hope  and  faith 
a!i\e  as  the  numlicr  of  graves  beneath  the  Plymouth 
cornfields  grew  and  £'rew.  During  pioneer  days  in 
solitary  log  caV  ins,  women  shared  %\Tth  their  bus- 
lands  the  constant  danger  of  attack  from  hostile 
Indians.  They  were  not  spared  when  the  red- 
skins descended  upon  the  settlements  \\'ith  toma- 
hawk and  torch,  as  the  stories  of  Ann  Hutchinson, 
Hannah  Dustin  and  many  others  indicate.  At 
the  time  of  tho  Revolution,  Molly  Pitcher,  taking 
her  husband's  ]>lacc  in  the  fighting  when  ho  W3^ 
grievously  wounded,  was  not  the  only  woman  who 
showed  courage  and  endurance.  Through  the 
terrible  ^nnter  at  Valley  Forge,  when  the  cause  of 
Washi.Tgi»n  and  Jefferson  seemed  all  but  lost, 
women  in  homes  from  Massachusetts  to  Georgia 
helped  to  keep  the  light  of  liberty  burning. 
Women  bore  their  share  of  the  burden  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  lands  across  the  Alleghenies,  in  the 
fertile  valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Misfsissippi. 
And  in  the  tragic  days  of  the  Civil  War,  in  homes 


16 


nortli  and  south,  in  hospitals  and  on  battlefields, 
•vromeu  took  their  part  earnestly  and  courageously. 
Never  in  any  period  of  the  country's  history  have 
they  been  found  wanting. 

To-day  the  opportunities  for  woman's  develop- 
ment and  her  ability  to  contribute  toward  the 
creation  of  a  better  world  are  greater  than  ever 
before.  At  last  all  acti\dties  of  life  are  open  to  her. 
She  is  now  free  to  choose  the  part  she  will  play  in 
the  world's  work.  Whatever  part  it  may  be,  good 
health  is  essential.  Only  because  the  women  of 
pioneer  days  possessed  clear  minds  and  Aigorous 
bodies  were  they  able  to  take  such  an  active  part 
in  the  settlement  of  this  country.  Their  record  is 
a  challenge  to  you,  a  woman  of  the  new  century. 
But  only  as  yon  .are  similarly  qualified  can  you  in 
the  home  and  in  the  larger  world  outside  meet  this 
challenge  of  a  glorious  past  by  your  achievement. 

V.  D.  No.  CO.  S.B.ofH. 


ADDITIONAL  COPIES 

OF  THIS  PUBLICATIOK  MAT  BE  PROCURED  FROM 

THE  SUPEP.INTTJNTIENT  OF  DOCtTMENTS 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTINQ  OFFICE 

WASHINGTON,  T).  C. 

AT 

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V 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :  1920 


